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"You said Cronus's house," I breathed, my pulse fast in my throat. I squeezed Haley's hand to brace her. "I think it’s the house that was meant to be our home."
Haley sucked in a breath. "You're right. That's exactly what Cronus would do, that heartless bastard."
I wished I could draw some of my old fire, and crack a joke or tease her until she smiled, but I wasn't sure that part of me had survived a hundred years in the dark.
"He's right," Kai said abruptly, letting me know he'd been listening in on our conversation. "I recognise those mountains."
I swallowed bile. I didn't want to return to the realm where we were killed let alone thehousewhere it happened. But if Wane was here…
"We're close," I murmured, squeezing my mate's hand so tight.
Emlyn cried out overhead, a piercing screech as he circled. Probably realising what we just had.
"Harvey," Kai said, throwing me a commanding look and prompting me to shift. As if it was that easy; as if I had any control over it.
"I don't know how," I admitted, my voice quiet so only he and Haley heard.
"It's when your emotions are out of control, right?" she murmured, stroking my knuckles. I nodded. "So … stop controlling them."
I froze when she stopped walking, leaning up to kiss the spot between my brows.
Stop controlling my emotions. Release the dam on the trauma I'd been holding back since the first day in the Labyrinth. Let it all out—the terror, the hatred, the shame, the bone-deep exhaustion. My next inhale shuddered.
"I'll be here with you," Haley promised, squeezing my fingers. "Hell, if you want me close, I can ride you into battle."
I groaned. "You're not riding me."
She waggled her eyebrows until I laughed. "Not until we get home, anyway."
I hooked her closer with desperate hands and kissed her hard, a small sound catching the back of my throat when she deepened the kiss, her tongue and teeth taking control of me until my panic settled.
Haley had brought me back to myself in the Labyrinth. She could settle my beast. Everything would be fine.
"I love you so fucking much," I rasped against her lips, my breathing fast and short.
"I love you too, my Buttercup," she replied fervently, the name making my heart skip.
"If he's not in the house—" I began
She shook her head hard, flinging dirty pink hair through the air. "Don't think about it. We'll get him."
I swallowed my nerves and nodded, stepping back.
"Might want to back up, my rose," Kai advised, his red eyes shifting between me and Haley—and glaring at Wynvail like he wanted to pull his brain out of his nose with a hook.
The shift happened easily—too easily when I released the lock on my memories.
In my head, I was back there, my skin crawling, pain throbbing through my pelvis, blood in my mouth. I was sobbing silently, conscious that any sound would bring a fist down on me. I was back there, and it was like I’d never left. I would always be in the basement, would never be safe. I was such a naive fool to think I could be safe, or worse—happy.
Fur erupted over my vast body, my roar deep and echoing, carrying far, and claws unsheathed themselves when I flexed my paws, landing on all fours.
"Still with me?" Haley asked, drawing my attention. I could understand her now, but it wouldn't be long before the beast's mind took over, sweeping all my intelligence under primitive needs.
I swallowed, the taste of copper and iron coating my senses. Blood—so much blood. Close by. Too close.
I took off running, not meaning to leave my family behind but unable to stay when terror blacked out all other emotions. Blood and fear—they were so familiar. I knew those scents, knew the taste on my tongue.
In my head I heard sobs and screams, heard him whisperI can’t take it anymore, Harvey, I can’t take it.I heard myself selfishly beg him not to leave me.
